Wanting to make a kilt from recycled jeans.

[Mikehill2010]

Hello All:
I want more than anything (right now) to have a kilt. The problem is that I am disabled by Diabetic Neuropathy, can no longer work, and have been turned down for Disability. I would like to know how to make a kilt out of 2 pair of recycled size 54 jeans from my sister-in-laws husband. WARNING: I have a sewing machine and know how to use it!

Mike Hill

[Big Mikey]

Search the forum for the instructions on making an Xkilt. Though I'm no sewer, the guide is easy to follow and should work well for your project.

[Pleater]

I am not sure that you would have enough denim to make a kilt, because you really need to cut the pleats on the straight grain, you can't use all the material.

However, if you have some thinner material to use as a foundation layer you could use the denim on the visible outer part and the second material for the inner.

You would, in this method, cut the jeans into strips and shape them to make the fell, the back of the kilt from the waist to where the pleats fall free - this part is shaped into the small of the back.

Below the level of the fell you would only have strips rather than pleats, but take a strip of the second material wide enough to fill the gap between fell and hem, mark it out into pleats, then sew the denim on to cover the visible part of the pleats. Once that is done the upper parts of the denim strips can be joined together to make the fell, perhaps reinforcing the seams with tape and then lining it completely

You would then need to make large waist to hem under apron pleats from the second material, an apron for the front, from denim, and an under apron, which could be a couple of layers of the second material. You could probably use the jean pockets, if you wanted them, and one waistband and perhaps belt loops.

Fabric from a heavy sheet or duvet cover might do as the second material as it is normally crease resistant and durable.

There were some links to photos on the forum showing kilts with different colours of backing, and some with very jazzy ones - I'm not sure they are still available but perhaps someone else knows where they are.

I have read with some interest how people are dealing with diabetes on a list called Atkins-A-WayOfLife on Yahoogroups.com. My grandmother died from the complications of diabetes and the memory concentrates my mind on the subject. You might care to visit there, and see what the search engine can pull out for you, if anything.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[James Byous]

I agree with Anne. You'll need several more pairs to make pleats. I suggest you hit the local Goodwill store.

[Farlander]

Mike, have you looked at the most excellent X-Kilt Manual by Alan H? If not, check out:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ownload-20085/

Still, as already stated, you will probably need some more fabric.

[SteveB]

First. Hello and a warm Celtic from Boston, Massachusetts.

Second> Like the others, I also say that you will need more fabric. I suggest that if you are near a fabric store, keep an eye on the remainders bin. (A.K.A. "discontinued" fabrics.)

I did get a half bolt of wide denim for $ 1.49 yd. 70 cotton/30 polyester. My sewing machine and I made a semi-traditional knife pleated kilt.
With the denim, I laid out and basted the pleats, tacked the fell, and took the whole project down to the cleaners, where I was able to lay it out and have the press applied. I took home a very well pressed kilt in progress. The sewing machine made short work of sewing in the pleats, the edging on the apron, the liner (a piece of cotton canvas) and then the fun of straps and buckles.

To be frugal, I made a few visits to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other charity shops in the area. I came up with a bunch of girls belts, pink, all the same width and buckles, in about three very tiny lengths. I recall four in each size. They were heavily dyed black, then formed into the straps for my kilt.

Including a fresh spool of thread, the total cost for making the kilt was $ 18.23 including local sales tax.

Fair warning, the makers of denim jeans are not great about following the line of the fabric. My attempt at making a kilt out of unwanted jeans chewed up twelve garments of very large sizes. The kilt is not very good, and is reserved for mucking the barn.

Slainte,
Steve